here has been encouraging news of late from Hong Kong , with a series of physical trade and consumer exhibitions in October , followed by another four tradefairs at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre ( HKCEC ) in the period 11-13 November 2020 . And the idea of a Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble - albeit the start date has been postponed - has also given fresh impetus to all regional travel related businesses .

The HKCEC shows were Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong X Gourmet Asia 2020 , Natural & Organic Asia 2020 , Build4Asia 2020 , and Retail Asia Conference and Expo 2020 . The venue had worked closely with the shows ’ organiser , Informa Markets , to reschedule the exhibitions and to implement preventive measures to enable face-to-face networking for attendees .

Monica Lee-Müller , MD of the venue ’ s operator HML , said : “ We highly appreciate organisers ’ support and confidence in the HML team to open the many tradefairs at the HKCEC , even without the participation of overseas exhibitors and buyers under the travel restriction . HML is committed to provide our world-class services , to create and recreate events , being flexible in scheduling and offering event organisers and attendees a safe , hygienic and comfortable environment to make connections and conduct business . We are excited with the proposed launch of the bilateral Air Travel Bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong , and we hope it will soon extend to cover Mainland China and other countries .”

Around 25 exhibitions and various

other corporate events and banquets have been confirmed at the HKCEC from October to December 2020 . With the Hong Kong Government ’ s Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme , which has now been extended until end of 2021 , more exhibitions and international conferences are expected in the coming months .

Although events at the HKCEC originally scheduled from 2 February onwards were postponed or cancelled , let us remember there is no lockdown in Hong Kong , and the HKSAR Government has implemented prevention and control disease regulations on business and premises , prohibiting group gathering , cross-border travel , and compulsory quarantining certain persons arriving in Hong Kong .

There is no particular regulation on exhibition events in regard to Covid-19 .

The HKCEC remains open and HML is committed to providing a safe and comfortable venue , as well as a professional service for exhibitions .

The first exhibition held since 25 January was the 98th Hong Kong Wedding Fair in May and , from 25 May to 16 November 2020 , 18

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exhibitions were held at the HKCEC and there are 50 international trade exhibitions on the books for calendar year 2021 with the majority recurrent events .

As for the pace and breadth of the bounce back for events , much will depend on travel restrictions .

For planned and rescheduled events to be held in 2021 , HML is encouraging partnership among exhibition organisers and says noncompeting art fairs , for example , could be held at the same time to draw bigger visitor numbers . In addition , some events will probably scale down next year and that will ease the space constraint .

HK $ 1bn Subsidy Scheme extension The HKSAR Government ’ s extension of the Convention and Exhibition Industry Subsidy Scheme , 3 October 2020 , means HK $ 1,020m ( US $ 131m ) is available to reinvigorate the industry .

The Subsidy Scheme offers a way to cover 100 % of the venue rental cost for organisers of exhibitions and international conventions held at the HKCEC and AsiaWorld-Expo . venues .

For private organisers of exhibitions which have a good track record , i . e . the exhibitions have been held in the HKCEC or AWE for the past five years , they may apply for receiving advance payment of 50 % of the subsidy , with the remaining 50 % disbursed to the organisers through the venue operators after the event .

HML managing director Ms Monica Lee-Müller said : “ The launch of the Subsidy Scheme in early October helps ease financial and cashflow burdens on exhibition organisers and helps them attract domestic and overseas exhibitors and buyers to Hong Kong , strengthening the city ’ s